The Editor’s Opinion Page
features
Cause for Alarm
A specialized arson problem is getting national attention through an arson prevention program sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. With a grant from the United States Fire Administration, the Conservancy Group, a nonprofit subsidiary organization of the National Trust, is providing printed and audiovisual materials to protect historic buildings from arsonists.
What fire chiefs have to remember is that these old buildings have two strikes against them before the bell hits. Because historic buildings have many fire spread hazards built into them—such as balloon construction, open stairwells and concealed spaces that often are the result of alterations—they frequently are a greater fire problem than most buildings in a community.
The threat of arson is increased for historic buildings that have attained landmark status—or are being proposed for that status. The stringent rules can severely limit an owner’s opportunities to make alterations to increase the income from these properties. In some cases, the land would become more valuable if the landmark building could be torn down, but the law says no.
However, the owner may say yes and then look for a torch. This is most likely to occur where an extensive section of a city has been declared a landmark area.
The campaign to preserve these historic buildings has to find an answer to this incentive to arson while attacking the more common causes of arson.
